Final Stretch Good Reads « Back to Group Discussions

[writermama12]

Let's post some engrossing books to read while we distract ourselves from waiting for the big day. That is always the hardest part of pregnancy for me! I think about it all the time. Waiting for the pot to boil.

I am reading Louise Erdrich's new novel The Round House and it is SOOOO Good. Sucked in right away. I was in the middle of re-reading Anna Karenina which was also flipping fantastic, prepping my mind to see the movie soon, when I picked up Erdrich's book to take a looksee and haven't put it down. Sorry Anna!!

[madelaine]

I just read Anna Karenina this year. I was surprised it seemed so modern, in a way. Some really memorable characters, there. I've been reading a lot of non-fiction lately, which isn't really the grab-you-pull-you-in type of thing...

[chocolatechip]

Great idea for a thread!

I would like to re-read Anna Karenina, since it has been a *very* long time since I read it the first time.

I'm generally a sci-fi and fantasy fan, so I have been reading a bunch of Mercedes Lackey's fantasy books, which are light fun reads but with good stories and lots of strong female characters. And I'm working my way through Elizabeth Moon's Ky Vatta sci-fi books. Another author who writes a lot of strong female characters, many of whom are the protagonists.

I am definitely finding at this point in my life that I get annoyed far more easily at books where there are no female characters, or the ones present are all stereotypical or weak. Or only described in terms of their physical beauty. I think I end up reading more books from female authors as a result. 

[scarletsmiles]

Chocolate Chip - Totally hear you on the strong female character. I'm such a sucker for those. I'll have to check out Lackey, I haven't heard of her and those are genres I enjoy.

I recently got a kindle and started Le Miserable (Or is it plural, I dunno.) I'm really excited for the movie over Christmas, however I doubt I'll be able to finish the book. In the beginning I find myself wanting to sit a digest rather than see what happens next.

I started Anna Karenina a few years ago, but alas school got in the way. Good suggestion!
 

[MPsSweetie]

I've been doing a lot of reading myself, seems like I've felt so bad this pregnancy, I figured I'd get something done! Lol
I've read a lot of homeschooling/unschooling stuff.
Doula ing and midwifery.
I check the freebies on kindle every few days.
I still haven't been sucked into anything yet though... I'm watching what y'all post!

[MrsBerkley]

The Round House in next on my list! I read the first couple of chapters as a sample on my kindle and was really impressed..right now I am in the middle of Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood. I think she is turning into one of my new favorites.

[spughy]

Chocolatechip - you might also like Lois McMaster Bujold's books, esp. the Vorkosigan saga.  The main character in most of the books isn't female, but a lot of his colleagues are and they're pretty universally awesome - diverse, strong and nuanced characters.  And the main character, Miles, is a very different kind of protagonist and very interesting.  She also has a few fantasy books that are really good too. 

I need something new to read... I have to read Catch-22 and Infidel for my book club over the next few months but I don't want to start them too early because we don't have another meeting until sometime in January.  I like sci-fi, fantasy, mysteries, historical fiction and historical romance - but it has to be well-written and female characters need to be smart and self-aware (that is, if they can't kick ass, they had better have some compensatory ways of getting stuff done).  Humour is also good.  I tend to prefer female authors but that's by no means a deal breaker - I like authors like Neal Stephenson (before he apparently stopped using an editor), Neil Gaiman, Stephen R. Donaldson, Asimov, etc.  Any suggestions?

[chocolatechip]

spughy, I LOVE love love Lois McMaster Bujold. She is one of my favorite authors.  I think I've read all of her books at this point, aside from the newest Vorkosigan one that just came out. The Vorkosigan saga is my favorite, but my second favorite is the Sharing Knife series. Have you read those ones? Fantasy with a solid splash of romance? 

scarletsmiles - I'd recommend starting with Arrows of the Queen if you're going to try out Lackey. It's the first written of her Valdemar books, and has a great protagonist coming from a difficult background and trying to find her way in a very new-to-her community. Also, way quick and easy to read. 

Some other recommendations for people who want fantasy with good female characters:

1) If you enjoy steampunk, I heartily recommend the Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger. The first book is Soulless. The series set in Victorian times, and uses the coexistence of humans, vampires, and werewolves to explain some of the ridiculous social conventions of that era. They're fairly light-hearted books, humorous, but adventures abound, and the main (female) character is awesome. And the author has an advanced degree in archaeology, so the historical part is quite well researched. Full disclosure - I went to grad school with her, and she's a friend of mine, so I *am* a little biased, but since I think every book she's written since the first has made it onto the NYT mass market bestseller list, I can't be *too* biased. 

2) On the more dragons-and-magic side of things, Melanie Rawn's Dragon Prince and Dragon Star trilogies are epic fantasies that I've read over and over again (because I like to do that). The first book is The Dragon Prince. Lots of people to keep track of, but she does a good job of it, and the female characters are great.

In pregnancy-related land, I am also reading Mindful Birthing and The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. 

[cabbitdancer]

If you're into strong female protagonists and crazy detailed fantasy world-building, Michelle (Sagara) West is amazing.

My favorite stuff to read is actually usually in the kids section. ;) I love Tamora Pierce, and I've been really getting into Shannon Hale and Cornelia Funke, lately. (Love Lackey, by the way.)

[spughy]

I'm waiting until post-baby to start the Sharing Knife series.  Gotta have something to look forward to!  Breastfeeding with a kindle is also going to be much easier than breastfeeding with an actual book   I think I've read all the Vorkosigan ones... unless Captain Vorpatril's Alliance is out?  In which case, yay weekend reading and screw my Amazon budget! Wheee!!!  I would so love to see that series made into a TV show.  It would rock.  (Unless it sucked, which would be indescribably sad.)

Chocolatechip - sounds like your reading preferences are very much like mine - so if you're looking for a post-baby keep-your-bum-on-the-couch series: Naomi Novik's "Temeraire" books.  AWESOME.  Main character isn't female (mostly due to the setting) but there are some great female characters (human and otherwise) and they are really, really, really good books with fantastic character development.  Probably one of my favouritest series EVER - right up there with Narnia and the Vorkosigans.   I got the first one when it was a Kindle freebie and boy did that marketing tactic ever work!!!
 

[SlimP]

My aim over the Xmas break is to read a book for fun, not for study.
Lots of interesting-sounding Sci-Fi and Fantasy suggestions, my favourite reads, thanks ladies.

[chocolatechip]

spughy, I was thinking the same thing, that we have similar reading preferences! I will definitely look up the Temeraire books. I also need to try some Neal Stephenson again. I think I read Snow Crash a very long time ago, and if it's what I'm thinking of, I really liked it, and yet somehow never picked up any of his other books. I'm sure you'll like the Sharing Knife books, and I'm impressed you're holding out on reading them. Captain Vorpatril's Alliance is indeed just out, so I am trying to wait to see if I unexpectedly get it from anyone for Christmas before I buy it for myself. But if it doesn't come as a present, I'm getting it right away. 

cabbit - I will look up Michelle West! I love Tamora Pierce, too. I've read the Alanna books many times over, and just read through the Immortals series. Have to figure out what comes next, now. I haven't read Shannon Hale or Cornelia Funke. Have you read Robin McKinley? Or Jane Yolen? They both have great young adult fantasy novels.

SlimP, let us know what you pick, and if you like it. 

[spughy]

Oh, chocolatechip - you HAVE to read "Diamond Age".  It is one of my favourite books of all time.  Better than Snow Crash.  Read it now.  Don't wait.  It is seriously amazing.

You weren't *really* supposed to tell me that Captain Vorpatril's Alliance is out... hopefully not available for Kindle yet, I have things I need to do today...

Oh!  Another tip: Kage Baker's "The Company" series.  Starts with "In the Garden of Iden" - more great books about time-transcending cyborgs with doubts about their mission.  And there's LOTS of them!!! Kage Baker also wrote some highly entertaining fantasy books - Bird of the River (a bit y/a), Anvil of the World, and House of the Stag, all set in the same universe.  And some more, according to wikipedia, that I haven't yet read so my holidays are starting to look pretty good   Sadly Kage Baker died a few years ago so no more from her once those are done.

[chocolatechip]

Ha, okay, I have put Diamond Age on hold at the library! There's a solid line, so it might be a while, but at some point it will just show up for me!

Sorry about spilling the CVA beans. I am sure it's not out on the kindle yet... 

I've added Kage Baker to my list, too! 

[spughy]

It's not out on Kindle yet, so my productivity is undiminished!

[writermama12]

Well, I just finished The Round House and I must say it was a good story. Great read. Although it was a bit juvenile fiction, it was still stimulating and the American Indian history and facts were totally interesting. Worth the money. 

Now back to Anna or on to something else? Hmmmmm...

Anyone else with a good rec? I am not really into fantasy, though my son is obsessed with it. 

[chocolatechip]

I read Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese earlier this year. Really good book, but with all the detailed medical descriptions and some of the events that happen, I'm not sure I'd recommend it as good pregnant lady reading. 

[veganyogamomma]

Its a pretty mainstream book but I just read Gone Girl and I was really impressed! Very well written, addictive mystery novel. Ive been reading a lot of lighter books in the last few months, just needing a good easy break from reality I guess. I also enjoyed Following Atticus, a true story about a man and his dog climbing mountains.

[cabbitdancer]

chocolatechip -- After the Immortals series is Protector of the Small. I love Kel. She is my absolute favorite Pierce character, and the fact that Raoul features a lot in those books is a huge plus, too. I have some Robin McKinley and haven't gotten around to reading it, yet. I think the only Yolen stuff I've read is the stuff she's written for littles. My daughter really enjoys "How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food?" ;)

I have a copy of "Diamond Age" in my "to read" bookcase, but I've got a lot of books in that bookcase. I have a friend who is a huge reader and she keeps handing her discards to me. XD

[chocolatechip]

I'll have to start in on Protector of the Small, then, now that I'm done with my Elizabeth Moon series!

Jane Yolen's "Pit Dragon" series (starting with "Dragon's Blood") is one I remember reading many times as a young adult. I haven't read them in a long time, but intend to again. Her Sister Light, Sister Dark and White Jenna books are both really good, with strong female characters and good world building.

Robin McKinley has a writing style that is very... mythical feeling? It's the kind of language and story-telling that you just have to let yourself get immersed in. The Blue Sword and The Hero and the Crown are both about young female warriors. I haven't read many of her newer books, but I like her older ones that I've read (Deerskin, The Door in the Hedge, The Outlaws of Sherwood, and Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast), though I haven't read the last two in a really long time. :)